This book is the fourth in the series of books published by Dr Rajan Sankaran after the "Spirit of Homoeopathy" and "Substance of Homoeopathy" wherein he explained his understanding of Homoeopathic principles and his approach to case taking and prescribing.
This current book explains, in detail, his methods of case taking and analysis as evolved over the years in his practice. A large number of case studies presented with actual interview records, detailed case analysis and basis of remedy selection make this book very absorbing. The follow-up seeks to demonstrate actual response.
To appreciate his system we have to keep in mind, without prejudice, his concepts of disease and other approaches as explained by him. Briefly discussed in Chapter I they are:
- The disease is central disturbance which affects first the mental and general plane and then the organs. This is what has to be treated, if peripheral disturbances are to cease to exist.
- The mental disposition, not merely mental symptoms, is more important; it is not discrete or separate but connected by a situation.
- Disease are a posture adopted by the organism for which a particular posture was adopted no longer exists. Hence disease is a delusion ie a false perception of reality. The state of being of a person can stem from a situation or delusion. To remove the state one must remove the delusion.
- In children there is a striking resemblance of the state of the infant and that of the mother during her pregnancy and sometimes of the father.
- There are four stages of the disease: a) The delusion or the main feeling. b) Coping as the intensity increases. c) Failed stage when the person is unable to cope though trying his best. d) Given up stage, where the person makes no further effort to cope. In (a) the feeling are uncompensated.
- Awareness of the reality is cure and health is freedom.
- Many of the symptoms of the patient may be in the compensated form (covering up by an act of will) and symptoms of the uncompensated state are essential to understand the state of the patient and prescribe. In dreams, the feelings expressed are raw and uncompensated; therefore they are often the key to understanding the patient and his delusion.
- Each remedy is a state of being.
- The delusion are also analysed in terms of the miasms. Apart from three basic miasms of Hahnemann, Dr Rajan had introduced in - between miasms like Typhoid, Sub-acute, Ringworm. Malaria, Cancer and Leprosy, with their corresponding remedies and nosodes. This approach enables better understanding of the case, while helping narrow the choice of the remedy.
After discussing the evolution of his system in the first chapter, he presents 25 case studies. Documentation of the whole interview, a detailed case analysis, the major points in the case including the central disturbance, delusion miasm, remedy kingdom, the reportorial rubrics and the final remedy selection with the follow-up, allowing proper assessment of remedy action leading to cure or relief, are presented in each case. These assorted and chronic cases (except one acute) facilitate understanding of his methods of case taking, value addition and final selection. Appropriate footnotes aid this process. At the end of these 25 cases, the reader is fairly familiarized with the concepts. Then follows chapter 27 titled " the system" - a packed 48 pages - in which he discusses in detail the concepts of case taking and case analysis. Thereafter ten more cases are presented.
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- Author: Rajan Sankaran
- ISBN: 9788190110310
- 488 pages
- Hardback
- Printed in India (Inferior Quality)
Reprinted with the permission of The Society of Homeopaths, (from 'The Homeopath' Journal, autumn 2000 edition). Reviewed by Fiona Heubeck.
How about The Summary of Homoeopathy? The Synopsis of Homoeopathy? The Slightly Short on Substance of Homoeopathy? This is a rather harsh, if facetious, comment on what is in many ways a fine book. Firstly, and in contrast to many homoeopathy books, it is beautifully produced, with good quality paper, lovely clear text, and the best editing and layout I have seen for a long time. There is an accurate index of remedies, excellent cross-referencing, and only a few typos (no doubt left in as proof against the Carcinosin miasm.) This is a book you can really enjoy reading, with its fluent story-telling and painstaking explanations.
The structure of the book (and it is very 'mineral kingdom') is that of a sandwich. Dr Sankaran briefly introduces his first twenty-five case histories, then there are approximately fifty pages outlining his 'system', followed by another ten cases. There is an appendix in which he clarifies his thoughts on miasm and kingdom classification, and a final summary has been written by Dr Bill Gray.
The case histories are truly admirable. Real conversations have been transcribed and annotated to allow either a 'find the remedy yourself approach, or by following the footnotes, to understand the thought processes used by Dr Sankaran and his team to find the correct remedy. The cases are mostly written out, at length, giving the reader a chance to perceive the whole case, and not just exclaim, puzzled, at the denouement. If you, like me, have ever thought, 'How come other people's patients speak in rubrics, and mine don't?', then here is the answer. With careful analysis and explanation, we see that the skilled homoeopath can hear the rubrics which are not always spoken aloud.
The real gift which Sankaran appears to have is to make hard data fit together with soft data in order to prescribe for the patient's whole state of being. He is adamant that no theorising or speculating must enter into case analysis, and yet he sees intangible patterns in speech, dreams and life events which assume such solidity of form that they become irrefutable hard data leading to successful prescriptions. He really does tie up Kent's world of causes to the world of ultimates in an accessible and effective way.
If you have struggled with Kent's philosophy, Vithoulkas' scientific abstractions or Hahnemann's old-fashioned terminology, Sankaran is the man to go for. The notion of the vital force, though not mentioned as such, rules with unbounded sway throughout his 'system'. The world of causes leads directly to the world of ultimates, and even Kent's 'reactions to the first prescription' are brought up-to-date, (though possible reactions are reduced from twelve to six [cf Kent Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy, p253]). Case-taking methodology traces its lineage straight from The Organon, and understanding the 'central delusion' seems synonymous with the original 'derangement of the vital force.' None of the (obsolescent?) older language has been permitted to taint a work which presents itself as new, clear and modern, but the content is actually unchanged and unchanging.
So, though exemplary in clarity of both thought and language, no real revelations in Sankaran's System. It may be a very useful book nonetheless, as it thoroughly illustrates many of the lines of inquiry and analysis needed in homeopathic practice. It also offers a
welcome reiteration of the no speculating' rule, while promoting the art intrinsic to homoeopathy. His discussion of potency, again with updated reference to the vital force, is helpful and clearly expressed. The brief comments on kingdom and miasmatic classification are mainly conclusions developed from his previous works, The Spirit of Homeopathy and The Substance of Homoeopathy. In some cases Sankaran feels that he has changed his mind, in others that he has refined the categories in a more concrete way. The whole book depends on these forerunners and The Soul of Remedies for its full value. Many cases end with an instruction to refer to The Soul of Remedies for a better understanding of the prescription.
In contrast to The Spirit and The Substance, this book, The System of Homoeopathy, has less which is new and original to offer. It is best seen as an illustrative collection of cases, given at greater length than previously in order to explain more clearly that which has gone before. What stands alone, independent of his other work, is the section of around fifty pages, the elucidation of Hahnemann's case-taking instructions, and this by itself does not justify the cost of the book. If you already have Sankaran's other works, then this is a beautiful collection of cases with which to work through his thought processes. Paradoxically, he is at pains to remind us that, 'every case should be looked at without prejudice, as being something entirely new and different from what one has seen before.' See this book, then, as an insight into the mind of a master, not as 'the answer'.
Some readers will feel that this is enough: others may feel short-changed by the disproportionate number of case histories compared to the extent of the exposition of his 'system'. Look at it as an indication of your state of being! If you are in a sycotic state, you'll love the exuberant multiplicity of cases. If you're in a psoric state of struggle, you'll hope for enlightenment and understanding. If you're tubercular, you can race through this book very easily and still be gasping for more. If you're feeling syphilitic, tear it up! For further insights on Sankaran's proposed miasms of typhoid, ringworm, malaria and leprosy, you'll have to read the book.
Most encouraging of all, in a way, is the fact that Sankaran, despite his need to 'systematize and standardize knowledge and experience', is continuing to explore, refine and change his thinking, so we may all feel justified in agreeing or disagreeing with some of his conclusions. I certainly look forward to reading Dr Sankaran's next work - The Success of Homoeopathy?
